PURCHASE, N.Y. – Scoring their highest point total since December 2018, the Manhattanville College men's basketball team officially got their season started on Thursday night with a 93-46 win over Five Towns College. The Valiants get the 2021 campaign off to a 1-0 start with the win, their fifth season-opening win in the last six years.
The Valiants used a well-dispersed offensive game plan in the win, as 14 different players ended the night with a point.
Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) led the way with 15 points on a 7-for-12 night, a new career-high for the junior guard.
Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) and
Connor Yetman (Sydney, Australia/The Scots College (H.S.)) joined Lotito reaching double figures, combining for 22 points.
Manhattanville dominated the glass, outrebounding the Sound 47-28.
Chris Brown's (Miami, Fla./Coral Gables Senior) 11 rebounds led the team, with his five offensive boards also marking a team-high for the night. Yetman pulled down six rebounds while Lotito also collected five.
The Crimson and White were in control from the word go, roaring out to a 12-0 lead in the first three and a half minutes. While the Sound were limited to just 16 first half points, the Valiants used multiple extended runs to extend their lead. Strings of 13 and 14 unanswered points allowed the home team to head into the locker room sporting a 52-16 halftime lead. Manhattanville shot 53 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, including going 8-for-17 on three point attempts.
Manhattanville outscored Five Towns 41-30 in the second half, shooting 47 percent over the final 20 minutes. While the Sound were able to get more of their offense rolling after the halftime break, an 11-0 run to begin the half for the Valiants effectively put the game firmly out of reach. Manhattanville would lead by as much as 59, cruising to victory to earn the first win of the season.
Up Next
Manhattanville is back in action on Monday night when they host the City College of New York at 7 p.m.
